McDonald’s customers are expressing frustration following the announcement of a significant alteration to its loyalty program. The fast-food giant is set to raise the amount of points required to redeem free items through MyMcDonald’s Rewards.
Presently, customers need 5,500 points to claim various menu items like a Big Mac, Double Fillet of Fish, Double Sausage and Egg McMuffin, and Nine Chicken Nuggets. However, starting March 17, the redemption threshold will increase to 6,500 points. Customers earn 100 points for every £1 spent at McDonald’s.
For lower-tier items such as a Medium Coffee or Small Fries, the current requirement of 1,500 points will be raised to 2,000 points. Similarly, the points needed for items like a regular McFlurry or an Apple Pie will go up from 2,500 points to 3,500, while a Double Cheeseburger or a McChicken sandwich will now require 5,000 points, up from 4,000 points.
In response to concerns raised on social media, one customer expressed dissatisfaction, while another inquired about the commencement date of the changes. A McDonald’s spokesperson explained that the adjustments were made due to increased food and supply costs. Despite the point increase, new redemption options have been introduced, including Chicken Selects, Cheese sides, and a new Sausage Sandwich to offer more choices to customers.
These changes come in the wake of McDonald’s recent menu launch, featuring innovative items like the Surf N’ Turf burger with two beef patties, a crispy white fish fillet patty, cheese, onions, pickles, mustard, and ketchup. Additionally, the new Chicken Cheeseburger and Espresso Milkshake have been introduced to cater to diverse tastes. McDonald’s also unveiled Chilli Cheese Bites accompanied by a tangy tomato sauce as part of its revamped menu offerings.